Weddings
Marriage at St Margaret’s Parish and Our Holy Redeemer’s Parish
We hope this little page of facts will be helpful for anyone thinking about planning a wedding or giving advice to others about marriage in the Catholic Church.
Weddings can only be arranged in our parishes after first speaking to one of the priests of the parishes. This is a basic rule of thumb about arranging a wedding: to speak with your own parish priest first. If neither one of the couple live in the parishes, you will also need to speak with the parish priest of where either one of the couple live at present, as the parish priest of where you are living now will be responsible for all the pre-marriage formalities.
Again, another very simple rule of thumb for Catholics is, regardless of whom they are marrying, for a Catholic to enter a valid marriage, that Catholic must exchange consent before the properly deputed person
(usually the bishop, priest or deacon) and two witnesses.
Here in the parishes, weddings can be celebrated in either of our churches, but usually weddings take place in the church where either the bride or the groom is a parishioner.
All couples marrying here, in our parishes, should give good notice of their intention to marry so that their date can be guaranteed and all the necessary paperwork and preparation can be completed on time.
We do not have a charge for weddings. You are free to make a donation, if you wish.
(Please do not think you cannot marry for lack of money. Over the years we have witnessed some very simple and beautiful weddings in our churches with only the bride and groom, two witnesses, the priest or deacon, and one or two friends or family in attendance.)
It's good to have a think about what is at the heart of marriage and to what it is, basically, that couples give their consent.
- Marriage is a union between one man and one woman for life.
- Marriage is a union that is entered, freely, by those capable of exchanging consent with the intention of lifelong fidelity to the other person,
- Marriage has permanence as a clear intention,
- Marriage has the intention of bearing and raising children, while, mutually, between the couple promoting the well-being of each other.
Together, these qualities make marriage unique, like no other institution or way of life.
Anyone considering marriage should have a good think about what marriage is, before they enter into it.
Marriage must be entered freely and with the best of clear motives, without condition or confusion.
Parishioners are free to marry whomsoever they wish, provided neither party to a marriage is prohibited by divine law, the law of the church or the law of the land. The priests will be happy to clarify any issues in this area when you come to speak with them.